Yesterday, six of our talented linguists from WGHS and QEGS took part in an exciting Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Debating Competition at St Peter’s School (York), showcasing their skills in French, Spanish, and German. Competing against schools from across the region, our students demonstrated exceptional language proficiency, critical thinking, and persuasive argumentation.

The competition was intense, with teams debating on a variety of thought-provoking topics in their chosen languages. The event started with a talk from a PGCE student who shared why she had chosen to study French at York University, discussing the benefits of a career in languages and highlighting the huge advantage of transferable skills that a degree in languages provides.

The motions included: “Mobile phones have improved people’s lives,” “Marriage is outdated and has no place in modern society,” and the semi-final topic, “Public transport should be free.” The two teams in competition for the final were given an unseen, unprepared motion with only 15 minutes and a paper dictionary to prepare. The final debate centered around the question, “Who is more important, family or friends?”

Despite the challenging nature of the event, our students performed brilliantly, impressing both judges and audiences with their eloquence and confidence. The panel of judges included, among others, PGCE language students from York University, adding an extra level of expertise to the evaluations.

A special mention goes to our German team, who fought their way to the finals in a series of closely contested rounds. Their final debate was a nail-biting affair, with the team narrowly missing out on victory in a hard-fought match. Their dedication and skill were evident throughout, making it an incredible achievement to reach the final stage.

All participants should be immensely proud of their efforts and achievements in representing our school. Their hard work and enthusiasm for languages truly shone through, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in future competitions.

Congratulations to all involved!

Claudia Donau-Green, Head of Languages